EVALUATION OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS

A network traffic model, Micro-Assignment, has been refined and applied to the central business district (CBD) of San Jose, California. The model is capable of simulating the fine network details and the wide variety of intersection control that normally exist in downtown areas and can be used for assessing the impacts of control plans both on the local network and on the surrounding highway facilities. Model refinements included a procedure for estimation of fuel consumption that is compatible with the characteristics of such dense networks and additional input and output capabilities. The model was calibrated to the conditions of the summer of 1979 by using measured traffic volumes and travel times and was used for evaluating the impacts of selected control plans. Network data and origin-destination (O-D) demand data were established for the 1-h afternoon peak period. A set of O-D demand data that was available for an earlier year was updated for the 1979 conditions, taking into account the various changes in land use activities and natural growth in the CBD area. Three improvement plans proposed by the city were evaluated and included a new highway facility that bypasses the CBD, a transit mall, and a new office-garage building. The impacts of these plans on both the CBD and the surrounding highways were analyzed and evaluated. This application was considered successful because the model was shown to be capable of simulating actual traffic operations effectively and of predicting the impacts of a wide variety of control plans. Furthermore, this application may be viewed as an analytic framework that illustrates in a step-by-step fashion the procedure of data collection, model calibration, and evaluation of control strategies in CBDs. It also points out several common problems that may be encountered in the application of such operational models and suggests possible ways of resolving them. (Author)

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 1-10
  • Monograph Title: Transportation system management, parking, enforcement and other issues
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00345943
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309032571
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Feb 27 1982 12:00AM